Sheffield Area News In Brief

August 31, 2013

Article Photos

A group of United Methodist ”Volunteers in Mission” from the Erie District of the United Methodist Church, lead by Debbie Hills, provided the labor to build the ramp at the family home.

Pictured, left to right with the Mainwaring and Havens engine, are Tom Curtin, Dennis Sturdevant, President of the Sheffield Depot Preservation Society, Les Lewis, and Steve Tachoir.

Dennis Sturdevant, John Paul Humenik and Jerry Nuhfer. Sturdevant and Nuhfer are members of the Depot Preservation Society and also worked with Humenik on the swing.

Kane District work day at the Ruth M. Smith Center will be held on Friday, Sept. 6, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. for anyone who would like to help ready the facility for its annual inspection.

Workers have been asked to bring scrapers, brushes, and paint trays if desired. The Center will provide the paint and some equipment. Lunch will be provided by the Center as well as a tour of the facilities for those who are interested.

Since this is an outside project, a rain date of Friday, Sept. 13, is planned. Please contact Dara Sterling, Kane District VIM coordinator, to be a part of the "team" no later than Wednesday, Sept. 4. Contact info: dara.sterling@gmail.com or 814.723.3007

The Western Pennsylvania Conference United Methodist Ministers' Chorus will sing Oct. 17 at the Youngsville United Methodist Church. Admission is free. A free-will offering will be accepted.

The Kane District is organizing another VIM trip to the Forked River, N.J., area to continue cleanup and recovery from last year's Superstorm Sandy. This trip is open to any folk in the Western Pennsylvania Annual Conference. There is a lot still to do in the area and all gifts and skills are needed.

The team leaders are Rich and Mary Schall. The team will leave on Sunday Oct, 20, and return on Saturday Oct. 26. The cost will be approximately $150-$175 for the week. If you are interested in being a part of this team or need more information, please contact Rich or Mary via email at rschall.mschall@gmail.com or via phone at 814.755.4908.

Sheffield VFD

The Sheffield Volunteer Fire Department will hold a swiss steak dinner at the firehall on Saturday, Sept. 14. Dinners will be served from 5-7 p.m. The cost of a dinner is $7. There are no pre-sale tickets being sold.

Dinners will include: swiss steak, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, cole slaw, and dessert. Take-outs are available. You may eat dinner in the firehall social hall. Also that night there will be a 50/50 and instant bingo tickets for sale as well as the quarter slide.

This dinner benefits the Sheffield Volunteer Fire Department.

Sheffield Depot

Preservation Society

In the early 1900s Mainwaring & Havens manufactured Sheffield Engines for use in the oil fields of the area. Many of the engines were cannibalized for parts or sold to collectors. One such engine was located in the possession of Bruce Zeigler, Simpler Times Museum in Tidioute. The engine originally was used on an oil lease near where the present-day location of the Eagles Club in Warren is located.

Through the efforts of Les Lewis and Tom Curtin, the engine has once again returned to the Valley. The engine was delivered on Thursday evening and was offloaded at Tachoir Resources (located at the former McMillen Mill site). Steve Tachoir helped unload the engine and will use his expertise to put the engine back into running order. After work has been completed on the engine it will be housed at the Sheffield Depot.

Another new addition to the Depot is a swing with a walkway to it, just beside the old cheese house which is beside the Depot. John Paul Humenik, an 81-year-old retired stone mason and brick layer made the walkway along with a wall and all the foundation work at the Depot as his contribution to Sheffield.

He has had a camp in Brookston while he lived and worked in McKeesport and now has purchased a home in Barnes and enjoys the little town of Sheffield. This is his way of giving back to the community.

The Speeder or MOW (Maintenance of Way) vehicle arrived at the Depot courtesy of Jim and Sean Mead after it was acquired from Sloan Cornell of Knox Kane Railroad. It was rebuilt at Mead Oil with help from Simo, John Buck, all the employees of Mead Oil, and Sheffield Depot Preservation Society. It was built in the early 1950's it's a Fairmont A6 Speeder. It is now in its home at the Depot.

Rummage sale

The Clarendon Trinity United Methodist Church will hold a Fall Rummage Sale on Friday, Sept. 27, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday, Sept. 28, from 9 a.m. to noon.

Ramp project

The Sheffield Area Ecumenical Food Pantry provided the funding for materials to build a ramp for a family in Clarendon. On Thursday, Aug. 22, a group of United Methodist "Volunteers in Mission" from the Erie District of the United Methodist Church, lead by Debbie Hills, provided the labor to build the ramp at the family home. Dara Sterling, Kane District Volunteer in Mission Coordinator from Warren First United Methodist Church, coordinated the volunteers from the Kane District. In addition to the volunteers from Erie, the local volunteers included members from the Russell United Methodist Church, Kane First UMC, Warren First UMC, and the Sheffield UMC. Chris Swanson from the Kane District office of the United Methodist Church located at Olmsted Manor in Ludlow helped to recruit volunteers from the Kane District.

The Kane District of the United Methodist Church plans to continue this volunteer ministry of providing more ramps to persons who may not be able to afford a ramp. Although the labor to build a ramp is provided by volunteers at no cost to the family, the materials to build the ramp need to be purchased, and funding can come from a variety of sources, including private donations. Any donations are appreciated and can be sent to the Sheffield Area Ecumenical Food Pantry, Box 721, Sheffield, PA 16347-0721 marked, "Ramps Ministry". Any family who may be in need of a ramp may contact the Food Pantry for further information.

Tuesday the Sheffield Kitchen band will be playing their instruments and singing for the residents of the Rouse Suites at 1:30 pm The bus will pick up at noon for this fun event. There will be a stop on the way home for ice cream. If you would like to be a part of this rewarding experience call the center. No talent is needed.

Thursday the Advisory Council will meet at 10:30 a.m. All suggestions and concerns for the Center and fundraising events are welcome. Topic will be the spaghetti and meatball dinner on Sept. 24 from 4:30-6:30 p.m.

Road closed

From Friday, Sept. 13, through Sunday, Sept. 15, the intersection of Routes 948/666 and Route 6 will be closed for the road construction of new rails and blacktop at this intersection. There will be a detour at Route 6 and Horton Avenue.

Coming events:

Aug. 31 1:30 Sheffield Wolverines Home Football Game against Kane Wolves

Sept. 1 Sheffield Rod & Gun Club Chicken BBQ

Sept. 3 "Meet the Teacher" for Kindergarten students at Allegheny Valley at 4PM.

Sept. 4 - First Day of School at Warren County School District

Sept. 14 1:30 kickoff Sheffield Wolverines Football against Brockway Home